We’ve been following the development of Ben Affleck’s latest directorial effort, Argo, with interest for some time now. He’s plucked a great script, gathered an amazing cast, applied everything he’s learned from Gone Baby Gone and The Town, and the fruits of his labour are now on screen in the first trailer for the movie.

Based on true events to spin a story that almost sounds unbelievable, Argo is set around the storming of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979. 52 Americans were taken hostage, but six others managed to escape and found sanctuary in the home of the Canadian Ambassador.

Knowing that the clock is ticking away to the time when they’re found and likely tortured or killed, the CIA starts brainstorming ideas to get the hostages out safely. Enter exfiltration specialist Tony Mendez (Affleck), who hatches a seemingly crazy plan to have the six pose as a filmmaking crew shooting a fake sci-fi movie to ensure their safe return home.

Affleck has rounded up the likes of Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Kyle Chandler, Victor Garber and Alan Arkin for what, on the evidence of this, looks like it could be a real treat and another winner from Affleck.